live-bait drag

[westfloridapirate]

Anybody have any experiences or educated opinions on spinning reels with a secondary, "live-bait drag" feature? I'm buying a couple of new reels (wanted a couple of spinners to complement my heavier, standard reels) and was looking at the Penn 760 Slammer, leading to the 760L which is advertised as having the advantage of a second, lighter rear-drag for live bait. The price difference is about $10. and I was wondering if there was an advantage or, possibly disadvantage to it.

Thanks,

 

[triumphrick]

Re: live-bait drag

I guess they're ok. I get to fix a few from time to time. Sometimes that drag is a little erratic. I like to hang on to my live bait rods. I 'm not good at laying out three or four and having live bait drags set. If so, I fish with floats. I like to free line live baits and cup my hand around the spool and control the line that way. Then I flip the bail and have at em when they have run enough to take the bait. With the circle hooks, I have a lot more hook ups and don't need them to run for long anyway. That's just me...good luck, and welcome aboard!!

 

[pduquette]

Re: live-bait drag

Hi WFP !
I just picked up a 560L Slammer last November and so far it has worked great....but since nov is post season up here , I'm mainly practicing casting ; not catching:redface: I was using a tube n' worm jig in the canal , casting out tripping the bait runner , letting the current spool out the line then reeling it back in . the 3-4 oz lure and current was all that was needed to adjust the drag . I 'm looking forward to hitting Buzzards bay this spring and thoroughly working my new toy in ! peter

 

[triumphrick]

Re: live-bait drag

You better be practicing, Peter! I bet you are so looking forward to the get together in May. Maybe by then the snow will have melted and you can get the boat out of the garage!!

 

[RickV1955]

Re: live-bait drag

Hey Rick.......
I might have to find someone up here myself (in Mass) to fish with until I can get back to Florida and my new boat.....missing the warm weather and the Gulf waters....

Peter, are you talking about the Cape Cod canal??

Have done a bit of striper and blues fishing with a friend a few years back....out near Martha's Vinyard.......

I'm certainly looking forward to the nice weather finally getting here!!

Rick

 

[capt sam]

Re: live-bait drag

I never use them, I think they're kinda gimmicky. If I'm trolling I use a conventional reel, and depending on my target species I generally float live bait on the spinner like Rick says and either leave the bail open for tarpon as an example or just loosen the drag, it doesn't take much to tighten it when the fish strikes.

 

[pduquette]

Re: live-bait drag

Hi guys !
TR. - Yea I'm itching to go to Fla . I got the boat untarped already , stripping + re painting + new rotory steer + raising my jack + prep the car +trailer......... haven't had time to practice lately .
RickV1955 , Yes I'm a canal rat ! When the snow isn't too terrible I ' ll bounce all arround the Cape Cod Canal , Fav areas - Bell St park ,Scussett beach / jetty , across from powerplant , depending on the tides etc ... Got my boat out to Bird Islang light last Vet's day - first trip in the briney .
Oh god ! I guess I hijacked another thread . Well at least it's not another post padd .

 

[westfloridapirate]

Re: live-bait drag

Thanks for the input, folks. It appears to be one of those things that sounds good in ad copy but is less than wonderful in reality: minimal or tricky use; possible weak/failure point. I think I'll get a regular one. This all started - and the hurry resulted from - hearing that Penn production was going to China. I wanted to get an International before it went off (and be, like tennis shoes a $12 shoe for $100., or a $35. reel for $500) , and then decided I'd like a spinner, too. I find the spinners are made in China already, though a new International spinner will come out and be "VERY expensive" (quoting a dealer, including the caps. So, doing my homework, first.

 

[capt sam]

Re: live-bait drag

warranty, warranty, warranty......that's what you really need to focus on. I buy shimano and quantum reels because of their warranties and GLoomis, St Croix and Shimano rods because of their warranties.

 

[triumphrick]

Re: live-bait drag

warranty, warranty, warranty......that's what you really need to focus on. I buy shimano and quantum reels because of their warranties and GLoomis, St Croix and Shimano rods because of their warranties.

Good stuff above. We all have heard it a million times...you get what you pay for. None of that gear is cheap, but with normal to minimal maintenance it will last for many a year. I just posted on another forum, that I still had one of my old Mitchell 300's from the early 60's. Back when I bought it, it was a good reel for freshwater, but with good care it lasted me for many years in saltwater.
I really like the Diawa Sea Line series and the Shimano TLD's for bigger conventional. Most all my spinners are Penn 5500 or 4500. Some are about 20yrs old.

 

[ebear]

Re: live-bait drag

Myself and the guys I fish with all have "baitrunners". The're mostly used for drifting whole ladyfish for shark, or live ballyhoo for kings. but always drifting. It's a very useful tool. By setting your drag you'll know if you've collected weeds, or when the fish shortstrike your bait, it won't tear apart or scare off the fish because of the full drag. As far as durability, shimanno makes a very nice reel that can handle anything you put it up against. But you'll pay for it. If you want to try baitrunner style reels without spending big cash, try okuma. the cordoba will hold up. [exept for the drag]And you can get one for about 40 bucks. By the way, I had 50 lb powerpro and the drag maxed, hooked to what I could best discribe as a mac truck. It pulled about 200 yards when the drag burned up.Thats when I went to shimanno.they have graphite,[not felt] drags.
As far as penn goes, let the chinamen use them. I got a 550ss 2 years ago and found they went to plastic in the bail return cam. the pivot post WILL break off. It did it to me twice before the warrenty ran out. I can't imagine any of the're other products being any better these days

 

[capt sam]

Re: live-bait drag

yeah it's a shame because I'm an old school Penn fisherman too but I'm down to some Senators and that's about it, the newer Slammers are pretty bad. I do have an old greenfisher 707 I may sell eventually I guess they're rare, prolly get some Cabo's with the money.